The incidence of coronary artery reoperations averaged 2.7% from 1967 through 1979. In a mean interval of 51 months between operations, three-vessel disease increased from 24% to 63%, and 31% of these 500 consecutive patients lost previously normal left ventricular function. Three angiographic indication groups were identified: (1) progressive coronary atherosclerosis, 247 (51%); (2) graft failure, 147 (29%); and (3) a combination of progressive coronary atherosclerosis and graft failure, 96 (19%). Angina recurred earlier in patient with graft failure, mean 17 months compared with a mean of 37 months for the other groups. Twenty (4%) operative deaths occurred. The series is divided into 387 patients operated upon under normothermic anoxic arrest and 113 with systemic hypothermia and cold cardioplegia. In the cardioplegia group, perioperative myocardial infarction was 2.7% in comparison with 7.8% for patients with anoxic arrest (p = 0.055). The number of grafts per patient increased from 1.0 to 1.9 and blood usage decreased from 11 units to 2.7 units. After a mean follow-up of 42 months, angina was relieved or improved in 86%. Recatheterization of 104 patients after a mean interval of 19 months showed a 79% vein graft patency rate and a 97% mammary artery graft patency rate. Grafting performed for graft failure (47) yielded an 85% patency rate. Actuarial 5 year survival was 87.4% for those with progressive atherosclerosis, 89.4% for patients with graft failure, and 91.5% for the combined indication group. Clinical improvement, graft patency, and long-term survival are nearly equal among the indication groups. Palliation derived from these reoperations approaches that achieved after primary revascularization.